U.S. authorities see threat to stadiums a hoax

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Homeland Security Department said on Thursday that a threat posted on a Web site last week about attacking football stadiums in the country this weekend was a hoax.

The FBI and the Homeland Security Department have evaluated the recent Internet based weapons of mass destruction threat to National Football League (NFL) stadiums, and the investigation has determined that this is a hoax, a statement issued by the two government agencies said.

It added that the public could be reassured of their security when they would attend sporting events this weekend.

Early Thursday, FBI agents interviewed a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in its investigation into the threat about using radioactive bombs against NFL stadiums attacking football stadiums.

That person was a young adult, but appeared to have no links with terrorism, news reports said.

The NFL and local authorities in York, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Oakland and Cleveland were alerted about the threat, which was posted on a Web site on Oct. 12.

Authorities said the threat lacked intelligence support, the reports said.

Source: Xinhua